John j



(No Model.) A

I. J. HIGGIHS. 'MAGNHSIUM FLASH LIGHT APPARATUS. l N02 4171`422 Patented Dec. 17, 1889..

INI/Ewan:

Arron/viva.

IIIIIII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN J. vI-IIGGINs, OE NEw YORK, N. Y.

MAGNEVSIUM FLASH-LIGHT APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,422, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed November 20, 1888. Sgrial No. 291,314. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. HIGGINS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Magnesium Flash-Light Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part there- Ot', in which.d

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, Ot' my improved Hash-light lamp. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the wick-tube. Fig. 3 is a diametrical section of the wick-tube cap, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the flameerector.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

The object of my invention is to construct a magnesium flash-light apparatus in which the charge of magnesium powder and the blast by which the powder is projected through the igniting-flame may be varied according to the light required; also, to provide means whereby the air for projecting the magnesium powder may be compressed to any required extent, so that a large quantity of powder may be quickly projected through the igniting-flame.

Myobject is, further, to construct an igniting-lamp which will be both safe and effective.

My invention consists in the combination, with a lamp provided with a wick-tube having a closed perforaed top, of a reservoir for magnesium powder extending into the annulanwick-tube and communicating with the blast apparatus.

It also consists in the combination, withV the magnesium-reservoir, of a directing nozzle for alteration of the form of the stream of powder as it issues from the reservoir to the igniting-liame.

It also further consists in the combination, with the wick-tube, of a metallic ring or hollow cone supported a short distance above the wick-tube and adapted to intensify the heat of the flame and to gather it into a lengthened columnar form.-

The invention further consists in an airblast apparatus formed of two elastic bulbs connectedwith each other yby a Iiexble tube,

'and also connected with the magnesium-reservoir by a flexible tube provided with a resistance for modifying the blast of air, with a regulating-cock and a pinch-cock, one Ot' the flexible bulbs being provided with valves and act-ing as a pump, and the other serving as a reservoir for air compressed by the pump.

The invention also consists in the combination, with. the central cavity of the annular wick-tube, of a gas-supply tube entering the said central cavity and adapted to receive a flexible tube when it is desired to employ gas in producing the igniting-flame.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the lamp, of a horizontal reflector arranged for reflection of the light of the burning magnesium.

The lamp-body A is mounted on the base B and provided with the usual internallythreaded collar C. To the threadedv collar C is fitted the wick-tube D, which is provided with a collar a near the upper end thereof, the part of the tube above the collar a being threaded to receive the screw-cap E. The

upper end of the tube D is closed by a perforated annular cap F, which is set in a short distance below the upper end ot the said tube.l In the center of the cap F is inserted a cylindrical tube G, leaving an annular space b between it and the wick-tube D, in which is inserted the wicking c, which is crowded into the said annular space to prevent the fire from running down through the wick into the body of the lamp. The sides of the tube D above thecollar a are perforated in thev saine manner as the cap F to permit of the escape of alcoholic vapor for the supply of the llame.

The tube G extends about half-way down the wick-tube D and is closed at its lower end, with the exception of an aperture for the reception of the Yright-angled tube OZ., One end of the said tube dprojects a short distance into the tube G and is externally threaded to receive the tube e. The other end of the tube d extends through the side of the wicktube D Vand is internally threaded. The external diameter of the tube e is made less than the internal diameter of the tube d, thus leaving an annular space f between the two IOO tubes G c. A gas and air tube f/ is inserted in the side of the tube G, near the lower end thereof, and extends through the wick-tube I) for receiving the gas-pipe nozzle 71. ',lhc tube G projects a short distance above the perforated cap l, and the tube cA extends above the upper end of the tube G, and is provided with a removable nozzle 1', having a small central aperture, which is shaped according to the form that is desired to be given to the magnesium illuminating-Hame.

A short distance above the wick-tube l) is supported a ilame-erector ll, which is formed 0f the hollow cone or ring j, provided with legs j', which rest upon the lower collar l.: of the wick-tube. The central opening lof the liame-erector is smaller than the uppei end of the wick-tube D, and the lower part of the cone 'j is larger in diameter than the upper end of the wick-tube.

A horizontal retiectorI is clamped between the collar lo of the wick-tube and the collar C of thelamp-body. To theinternally-threaded end of the right-angled tube d is fitted one end of a tube on, the other end of which is curved upward and inserted in a T 71. The top of the T is provided with the screw-plug 0, and the branch p of the T is adapted to receive the rubber air-tube q.

The air forcing and compressingapparatus consists of the elastic bulb J, provided with an inlet-valve r and an outlet-valve .9,.and the elastic bulb K,connected with the outletvalve s by the flexible tube 'lhe flexible discharge-tube u, connected with the bulb K,

is provided with the stop-cock L for controlling the flow of air from the bulb K. The said llexible tube 'u is also provided with the pinch-coek t, of the usual well-known construction, which is adapted to pinch and close the tube u and hold it closed and to be instantly released, so as to permit the tube to open. The flexible tube uy is connected with the iexible tube (l by means of a short resistance-tube zu.

My improved Hash-light apparatus is designed more particularly for use in connection with photograpliy; but it may be used to advantage wherever amomentary light of great intensity is required.

Then it is desired to produce several suecessive flashes in quick succession and without the necessity ot reloading the magnesiumpowder reservoir, I apply to the tube m a magazine m, as shown in dotted lines, or I connect the flexible tube (j with a branch m2 of the tube nl, as shown in dotted lincs,when the upwardly-eurved portion of the said tube m will serve as the magazine. In either case, when the magazine is filled with powder, one discharge of air from the bulb li will carry forward to the igniting-tlame as much magnesium powder as lies in the tube m below the magazine, and as soon as the air-pressure becomes normal in the tubes g fm a new charge of magnesium powder falls into the tube m, ready to be again plopelled forward by the air-blast.

lhe operation of my [lash-light apparatus is as follows: 'lhe lamp-body A being lillcd with alcohol and the wick being saturated, the tubes (l c are partly filled with magnesium powder, and the nozzle l. is placed in the upper end of the tube c, when the lamp is lighted at the perforations at the top of the wick-tube l). It' any diliiculty is found in lighting the lamp, the wick-tube D may be warmed, so as to generate alcoholic vapor before applying the match to the top of the wick-tube. The erector ll. is placed in position, the pinch-cock t" is closed, and the elastic bulb I( is filled with compressed air and distended to a greater or less extent, as may be required. The stop-cock L is adjusted so as to regulate the flow of air when the quantity of air required is less than would pass through the resistance-tube zu, the said resistancetnbe u: being of such size as to permit the maximum volume of air to liow through it to the magnesium-powder reservoir. Ihen the light is required, the pinchcock 'v is released, and the air contained by the elastic bulb K is expelled partly1 by its own elasticity and partly by pressure on the bulb, thereby driving the magnesium powder contained by the tubes (l c through the nozzle and into the llame, the powder being spread or shaped, as desired, as it emerges from the nozzle t', so that every particle of it is brought into contact with the llame of the lamp. By removing the tube c from the tube d and placing the magnesium powder in the tube d, or in the tubes d G, the magnesium powder (owing to the large area of the tube G) will be projected only in part, a portion of it falling back into the tubes (l G to be forced out by the next air-blast. Repetitions of the 1nagnesium-llan1e may, in this 1nanner,be rapidly made. The upper end of the tube G in this case forms the projecting nozzle.

\Vhen a greater quantity of magnesium powder is required than would naturally be contained by the tubes (l e, an additional quantity of the powder is introduced into the tube m through the T a after the removal of the plug 0. and the operation is proceeded with as before.

\\'hen alcohol is used for producing the flame, air enters through the tube r/ into the tube G and is supplied to the interior of the flame through the space j". Where gas is to be used for producing the llame, the nozzle 7l, is connected with any convenient gas-supply and vthe gas is allowed to burn from the upper end of the tube G, the manipulation of the air-forcing apparatus being the same as before described. A

IIavin g thus described my invention, I claim as new a-nd desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In magnesium flash-light apparatus, the combination, with an annular ingniting- The plug is then reinserted,y

IOO

ITO

, der reservoir, substantially as speciied.

2. In magnesium Hash-light apparatus, the combination of the wicktube D, the gas and air tube G, arranged Within the wick-tube, and the magnesium-holding tube e, located Within the tube G, with a space f intervening between the tubes e g, substantially as speciiied.

3. In magnesium Hash-light apparatus, the combination, with the magnesium-powder reservoir and air-forcer connected therewith, of a nozzle adapted to spread or alter the form of the stream of magnesium in the ignitingflame, substantially as specified.

4. In magnesium flash-light apparatus, the combination, with the magnesium-reservoir, of an air-compressor, a compressed-air reservoir, and means, substantially as shown and described, for confining the air in the reservoir and releasing it therefrom.

5. In magnesium flash-light apparatus, the combination, with the air-supply tube, of a resistance-tube of smaller diameter than the air-supply tube, substantially as specified.

6. In magnesium flash-light apparatus, the combination` with the igniting-burner and magnesium-reservoir arranged within the said burner, of a flame-@rector formed of a hollow cone or ring supported above the igniting-burner, substantially as specified. l

7. In magnesium dash-light apparatus, the combination, with the magnesium proj ecting and igniting devices, of a reflector surrounding the burner or Wick-tube, substantially as specified. l

' 8. In magnesium Hash-light apparatus, the combination, with the wick-tube D, provided With the perforated closed cap F, of the tube G, supported centrally in the Wick-tube, the nozzle h, communicating with the tube G, the tubes d m, the tube e, and an air-forcer communicating with the tube m, substantially as speciied.

9. In magnesium Hash-light apparatus, the combination of the elastic bulb J, provided with valves r s, the elastic bulb K, communieating with the bulb J, the air-tube u, the stop-cock L, inserted therein, the magnesiumpowder reservoir formed of the tubes dm,

JOHN J. HIGGINS.

-Witnessesz A. E. BEACH, C. SEDGWICK. 

